Presidential Candidates Find Solace Through Faith
During the FAMiLY Leader’s Thanksgiving Family Forum, two presidential candidates shared how their faith helped their families navigate the grief of losing babies to miscarriages.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, among the three Republican candidates present, recounted his challenges conceiving with his wife, Casey, during his Navy service and her time as a TV reporter. He detailed their pilgrimage to Israel after his 2012 election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where they visited sites linked to prayers for fertility, eventually conceiving a child, only to endure the heartbreak of a miscarriage.
DeSantis emphasized their unwavering faith, expressing gratitude for eventually welcoming their first baby girl, followed by a 5-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in life’s twists and turns.
Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and presidential candidate, shared his and his wife Apoorva’s journey, detailing their joy and subsequent heartbreak during her residency when they experienced a miscarriage. He praised his wife’s resilience amid depression, attributing their Hindu faith for guiding them through the loss, affirming their belief in their child joining their Creator.
Ramaswamy also recounted a second scare during his wife’s pregnancy, where a medical misunderstanding initially indicated another miscarriage, only to reveal the baby’s heartbeat at a later appointment, highlighting the unpredictability of life’s tests.
This discussion occurred ahead of the Iowa caucuses, a critical event for these candidates hoping to challenge former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Poll averages show Trump leading with 47% support, followed by DeSantis at 17.4%. Other candidates, including Ramaswamy, are aiming for breakthroughs.
Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of the FAMiLY Leader, suggested a competitive landscape despite Trump’s lead, endorsing DeSantis due to his strategic approach to the caucuses. The Iowa caucuses, set for January 15, will distribute delegates proportionally, allowing candidates to secure delegates even without a win.
This marks the start of primaries and caucuses across all states, culminating in the nomination of the Republican Party’s presidential candidate, where achieving at least 1,236 delegates out of 2,470 is essential.